We should not forget Ranjan Gogoi, because he symbolizes the rut at the top

This is what happened to the lady who accused Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment (Gogoi was then a judge of the Supreme Court, and went on to become the Chief Justice):

1. She was suspended.

2. Her husband was suspended.

3. Her brother-in-law was suspended.

4. Her other brother-in-law was dismissed.

5. Her internal inquiry was done on a day she was sick (and was taken to hospital by the SC staff).

6. She was arrested for a cheating case and sent to jail (dismissed).

7. Her husband was arrested in the same case.

8. Her case was investigated by a three-member committee of three SC judges, including Gogoi.

9. The lady refused to be part of the “partisan” committee and still it went ahead.

10. The committee (including Gogoi) absolved any misdeeds (and the report was never provided to the lady — in violation of the Visakha guidelines).

Some more details:

1. She was a junior staff who was shifted to Gogoi’s office at Gogoi’s request.

2. Gogoi invited her home along with her husband.

3. Her differently-abled brother was given a job within seven days of Gogoi becoming CJI based on the recommendation of Gogoi under a discretionary quota.

4. Requests of Gogoi to her to come to the office early and seek “Good Morning” messages.

All the cases mentioned were closed, and all the people were reinstated when the SC committee gave a clean chit to Gogoi.

It is now alleged that the phones of the lady, her husband, and another 11 people around her were snooped by Pegasus — starting immediately after she made the detailed complaint.

Gogoi gave some important judgments during this time — including Ayodhya.

After retirement, Gogoi was appointed by the government as a member of the Rajya Sabha, under the five positions which can be nominated by the President for “citizens with a history of exemplary service to the nation”.

As RS members, we will need the approval of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to prosecute Gogoi.

Gogoi attended RS on the 18th & 19th of March of 2020 during his oath and exactly a year on the 18th of March 2021. No other days.

When his case was mentioned by Mohua Moitra in the Parliament, he said he would not approach courts as he has no faith in the justice system.

Recently Gogoi spoke about how he was surprised by the 1973 Keshavananda Bharati judgment by the Supreme Court, which spoke about the fundamental structure of the Indian Constitution, which can be changed. Now why was Gogoi speaking, and for whose interest? Your guess is as good as mine.

But one thing is certain, Ranjan Gogoi remains an example of how not to be a judge at the higher courts of India, and how not to lead a life after that. And if we make serious attempts to overhaul our judicial system, we need to start at the top of the hierarchy to find whether some rotten tomatoes have sneaked in, and how to deal with them.